Apparatus for orienting and inserting electrical devices



July 10, 1962 J. L. BEERS APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING AND INSERTING ELECTRICAL DEVICES Filed March 1, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

July 10, 1962 J, ERs 3,043,446

APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING AND INSERTING ELECTRICAL DEVICES I Filed March 1, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNV NTOR.

'25 in i1 Jsmy A. if?! y 1962 J. BEERS 3,043,446

APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING AND INSERTING ELECTRICAL DEVICES Filed March 1, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING AND INSERTING This invention relates to loading apparatus and particularly to an apparatus and method for automatically orienting and inserting electrical devices having lead-ins into sockets. More particularly, this invention relates to loading apparatus for inserting electron tubes into sockets.

In the manufacture of electron tubes, it is the practice as part of the final manufacturing processes, to electrically energize the electron tubes for the purposes of stabilizing and testing their electrical characteristics. To accomplish this, the electron tubes must be inserted into sockets in which electrical contacts between the electron tube electrodes and electrical energy sources are made. To insure, however, that the proper voltages are connected to the dilferent electrodes, both the electron tubes and their sockets are so designed that the tubes may be inserted into the sockets in but one predetermined orientation.

Heretofore, this insertion process has been performed manually, with each tube individually oriented and inserted into a stationary socket. Recent advances in the electron tube art, however, have resulted in the development of automatic continuous-process stabilization and testing equipment which require tube loading at a rate faster than is possible by manual means.

Early attempts to develop automatic tube inserters were only partially successful due to the relatively large external dimensional variations which are found in the manufacture of electron tubes. Variations in the length of the base leads, in the height and diameter of the tubes, and in the shape of the tube due to misalignment between the glass tubulation at one end of the tube envelope and the glass closure stem at the other end, although unimportant with respect to the operation and utility of the tube, were of sufiicient import to interfere with the operation of these prior devices.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus to automatically orient and insert electrical devices having lead-ins into sockets.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide apparatus to automatically and rapidly orient and insert electron tubes into tube sockets.

Another object is to provide such an apparatus capable of orienting and inserting into sockets electron tubes having relatively wide dimensional variations.

A further object is to provide orientation and insertion apparatus capable of discarding electron tubes having mechanical defects which make insertion impossible.

Other objects and features will become apparent as this invention is more fully described.

Electron tubes to be automatically oriented and inserted by apparatus herein disclosed and made according to my invention may be of the types commonly referred to as miniature tubes although the apparatus may be used with other types. These miniature tubes have a plurality of leads extending outwardly from one end thereof, and except for one large orientation space between two of the leads, are spaced equally around a circle.

Apparatus made according to this invention comprises an elongated box-like housing open on one side and having a pair of joined pivoted guide members at one end thereof closing one end of the housing. In operation, a miniature electron tube is loaded into the housing with 3,043,446 Patented July 10, 1962 its external leads directed towards the pivoted guide members.

At the other end of the housing, means are provided which engage the dome of the electron tube and exert a continuous force against it to advance the tube along its longitudinal axis towards the guide members. The tube leads are directed into a hole within the guide members, with the walls of the hole closely fitting the circle of leads and serving as a bearing to center and support them, the walls being tapered to guide the leads to a position for rotation.

When so positioned, the tube is supported solely at its dome end by the above mentioned advancing means, and by its leads in the guide member, the remaining portions of the tube envelope in no way encountering or being supported by the housing walls. This feature is important since it eliminates from the subsequent orientation and insertion operations the effect of variable tube envelope shape and dimensions.

Further passage of the leads through the hole is prevented by an obstructing key extending radially into the hole. The key is of a width greater than the space between the equally spaced leads, but less than the large orientation space, and only when the leads defining the orientation space are in position to straddle the key is the tube permitted to continue its axial advance.

The tube is rotated about its longitudinal axis until the orientation space registers with the key, at which point the continuous advancing pressure immediately urges the leads forward and past it. The envelope base engages the key and the orientation space leads engage the sides of the key. This engagement prevents turther tube rotation as the tube leads finally pass through and emerge from the hole to the outside of the housing.

Located immediately adjacent the guide members is a socket into which the emerging leads are partially inserted. The joined pivoted members are then rotated apart out of the path of the advancing tube, and the tube leads are then fully inserted into the socket when the tube is pushed forward by the tube advancing means.

The novel features which are characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims, but the invention will best be understood by reference to the tollowing detailed description and drawings, which, it is noted, represent but one of possible embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 shows a tube of the type that may be oriented and inserted by the disclosed invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing apparatus embodying the invention, the apparatus being shown at the start of the orientation operation;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but at a later period of the orientation cycle;

FIG. 4 is section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to a portion of FIG. 2', but at a later period of the orientation cycle;

FIG. 6 is section taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlarged views of a portion of FIG. 3, but at difierent periods of the orientation cycle; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the timing mechanisms used with this invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a miniature type electron tube 1 of the type described, comprises a glass envelope having a dome end 2, a stem end 3, and a plurality of outwardly extending leads 4 arranged around the periphery of a circle. The leads 4 are all equally spaced from each other, with the exception of orientation space 6 between two of the leads which may be twice the size of the other lead spaces (5). p

Referring to FIGURES '2 and 4, apparatus made ac-- cording to the invention includes a receptacle comprising a housing 35 and a movable tube supporting member 36, and a pair of pivoted guide members 10 and 11 which close one end of the housing 35. A tube lead-in chute 37 opens into housing 35 through aperture 38 for feeding tubes one at a time into the housing 35.

A tube engaging and advancing means includes a rotatable shaft 40 which extends into housing 35 and terminates in a cup 41 and a rubber insert 42. Shaft 49 may be rotated by a motor 46 connected to shaft 40 by belt 45 and pulley 43. Pulley 43 is fixed to shaft 45 by a key (not shown) fitting into a keyway 44 on the shaft, which arrangement permits the sliding of the shaft 41} within pulley 43 when the shaft is advanced into the housing as will be described.

Means are provided for moving the shaft 40 and member 42 axially of the housing 35 to engage and disengage a tube. These means include an air cylinder 55 coupled to shaft 40. The air cylinder is activated by air pressure which is directed into ducts 62 and 63 by operation of valve 61. Solenoid 60 controls Valve 61, and when the solenoid is energized (by means later described), the air pressure is directed into duct 62 to drive the plunger 56 forward. Conversely, when the solenoid is de-energized, the air pressure is directed into duct 63 and the plunger is retracted into the air cylinder.

Plunger 56 is mechanically coupled to shaft 46 through spring arrangement 50. The purpose of this coupling means, which may take any number of forms well known in the mechanical arts, is to provide a continuous force to advance shaft 40 into housing 35 when air cylinder plunger 56 is activated forward. Plunger 56 is fastened to spring housing 52 which rides along track 53 and is thus advanced and retracted with plunger 56. Shaft 41) extends freely into spring housing 52 and terminates in piston head 40. Spring 51 frictionally engages piston head 40 so that shaft 46 is free to rotate with respect to spring 51.

When plunger 56 and spring housing 52 are advanced, spring 51 is compressed which tends to also advance shaft 40. If shaft 40 is obstructed from advancing within the housing 35 at any point short of the stroke of air cylinder plunger 56, spring 51 is further compressed and exerts continuous subsequent advancing pressure on shaft 44 Retraction of plunger 56 and spring housing 52 results in a withdrawal of shaft 40when housing end plate 54 engages piston head 41).

As shown in FIGURES 26, housing 35 has as portions thereof, cooperating pivoted guide members 10 and 11, which close one end of the housing, and the tube supporting member 36 fastened to guide 11, which closes the bottom of the housing.

Both guide members 10 and 11 are fixed to and supported by shafts 12 and 13, which, in turn, are rotatably supported by brackets 13 and 19 extending from housing 35. Fastened to shafts 12 and 13 are intermeshed gears 14 and 1S. Rotation of shaft 12 thus causes the joinder housing 35 as in FIGURES and 6. When solenoid 17 p is de-activated, the guide members and support member are returned to the positions shown in FIGURES 2 and 4.

As will be seen, the purpose of the guides is to assist in both axial and angular orientation of the tube, and to accomplish this, means are'provided in the guides to receive and center the tube leads.

The guide members and 11 are provided with semicircular recesses 21 and 22 in the oppositely disposed edges of guide members 10 and 11 which recesses combine to form hole when the guides are in contact. As seen in FIGURES 7 and 8, hole 20 includes a chamfer 23 which slopes inwardly to meet the circular cross-sec- 4 tion portion 24. The diameter of this latter portion is only slightly greater than the diameter of the circle of leads and closely engages them as shown. The outermost diameter of chamfer 24 is 1% to 2 times greater than that of lead circle, and serves to guide the leads 4 into hole portion 24.

Also included in the edges of guide members 10 and 11 are recesses 25 and 26 which, in cooperation with pin 28 extending from housing 35 (FIG. 5), serve to accurately align the joinder of guide members 10 and 11.

To insure proper angular orientation of the tube leads with respect to the holes of the sockets into which the leads are to be inserted, guide member 10 has extending from it and protruding radially into portion 24 of hole 215, the key 29. The width of this key is slightly less than the size of the orientation space 6, but larger than spaces 5. Also, key 2?, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 has an inclined surface 30 leading to a surface 31 which is parallel to a plane perpendicular to the walls forming portion 24 of hole 29. The purpose of the inclined key surface 31 is, as will be seen, to prevent jamming of the tube leads against the key 29.

Returning to FlGURES 2 and 5, a socket 47 on a conveyor belt 48 is shown located just beyond guide member 119. Socket 47 may be any of a variety of sockets commonly used in the art, and has a plurality of holes spaced similarly to the tube leads 4 of tube 1. This socket, and others, not shown, is positioned on belt 48 in predetermined orientation with respect to key 29. Indexing means (not shown) sequentially locate each socket adjacent the guides 10 and 11 to receive and carry off an oriented tube.

Timing means for the conveyor indexer, like the energizing means for the solenoids, is electrical-mechanical, and is shown schematically in FIGURE 9.

Clock motor 65 drives shaft 66 which is common to cams 67, 68 and 69. Associated with these cams are switches 70, 71 and 72, respectively, which may be closed by the cam surfaces 67, 63' and 69' shown on the cams. Closing of the switches connects a source of electrical energy to energize each of the solenoids, and to trigger the conveyor belt driving means to index the sockets one position. I

With reference to FIGURE 2, a detailed description of operation will now be given. A tube 1 is loaded into housing through opening 38 and chute 37 in such a manner that it rests on supporting member 36 with the tube leads 44 directed towards guide members 10 and 11.

The tube may be loaded manually or automatically, but if the latter, gating means (not shown), which may be any of a number of devices known in the mechanical arts, are provided to allow properly timed individual tube loading. Cam 73 and switch 74, shown dotted in FIG- URE 9, may be provided to trigger the opening of the gate means, if used.

After tube loading, cam 67 closes switch 79. This energizes solenoid 60, with the result that shaft 41 is advanced forward within housing 35, as previously described.

Rubber insert 42 encounters the dome 2 of the electron tube 1, which is then also urged forward towards guide members 10 and 11. The advancing tube leads are guided by chamfer 23 into hole portion 24, whose cylindrical walls closely engage the leads (see FIGURE 7). As shown in FIGURE 3, the tube is now supported solely by the rubber insert 42 attached to cup 41 on shaft 40, by the walls forming hole 20 and by the key 29.

Except in the rare case where the tube is already properly oriented, further tube advancement through hole 20 is prevented when one of the leads 4 encounters the obstructing key 29. The advancement of shaft is thus somewhat less than the stroke of air cylinder plunger 56,.

immediately disengages the rubber insert from the electron tube. The tube is now rotated about its longitudinal axis by shaft 40 which is rotated continuously by motor 46.

As previously mentioned, the key 29 is provided with the inclined portion 31 to prevent jamming of the tube leads against the key. The reason for this is that because of the variation in the tube lead lengths, it is possible that an individual tube lead, first encountering the key and then being rotated off it, may be followed by a lead of greater length which would jam against the key leading edge. The beveled key edge, as provided, prevents this, and in cooperation with the means to advance the tube, produces a slight reciprocating motion of the tube.

FIGURE 7 shows a lead 4 in contact with the inclined key surface 30. As the tube is rotated, this lead is made to ride up the incline until it reaches the flat portion 31. This screw-type motion of the lead results in a slight regression of the tube along its axis of advancement; which regression is taken up in spring 51. When the lead is rotated otf the key, the tube is immediately urged forward due to the action of compressed spring 51 until the next lead encounters the key incline. It is noted that although the space 5 between the leads is less than the width of the key, only one lead may encounter the key at any instant, and each lead may do so only by falling onto its surface.

The above sequence continues until the orientation space is rotated opposite the key. Then, as the lead defining the start of the orientation space is rotated off the key, the following lead, which has not as yet reached the key, is advanced axially forward past the key, rather than advancing onto the inclined portion of the key. These leads then engage the sides of the key to prevent further tube rotation, with rotating rubber insert 42 slipping on dome 2.

As the leads pass through and emerge from the guide members and 11, they are partially inserted into a socket 47 on conveyor belt 48 (FIG. 8). Solenoid 17 is energized by operation of cam 68 and switch 71, and guide members 10 and 11 are pivoted out of the path of electron tube 1 to permit full insertion of leads 4 into socket 47 (FIG. 5).

Air cylinder plunger 56 is withdrawn into air cylinder 55 by the opening of switch 70, as described, and shaft 40 is retracted. Cam '72 triggers the conveyor belt driving means, and the socket carrying the inserted tube is indexed away from the housing.

If leads 4 have not properly seated within socket'47, withdrawal of shaft 40, and supporting member 36 along with guide members 10 and 11, leaves the tube 1 unsupported and free to drop from the housing.

Further rotation of cam 68 permits opening of switch 71, and guide members 10 and 11 along with supporting member 36 are re-added to housing 35. This completes the cycle and a new cycle is started with the loading of another tube.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for indexing and socketing an electrical device having a plurality of lead-ins extending from one end thereof and parallel to ,the longitudinal axis of said device, said apparatus including a supporting means for supporting an electrical device, means associated with said supporting means for advancing said device axially along its longitudinal axis with said lead-ins extending in the direction of advance, guide means associated with said supporting means for engaging the lead-ins when said device is advanced, said guide means having means for permitting movement .of said device through said guide means only when said lead-ins are in proper rotational registry with said guide means, and means for rotating said device when said device is in engagement with said guide means to bring said guide means and said device in rotational registry with each other.

2. Apparatus for indexing and socketing an electrical device having a plurality of lead-ins extending from one end thereof and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said device, said apparatus including a supporting means for supporting an electrical device, means associated with said supporting means for advancing said device axially along its longitudinal axis, with said lead-ins extending in the direction of advance, movable guide means associated with said supporting means for engaging the leadins when said device is advanced, said guide means having means for permitting movement of said device through said guide means only when said lead-ins are in proper rotational registry with said guide means, and means for rotating said device when said device is in engagement with said guide means to bring said guide means and said device in rotational registry with eachother, and means for moving said movable guide means out of the path of advance of said device to permit further advance of said device for socketing said device along said path.

3. Apparatus for indexing and 'socketing an electron tube having a plurality of lead-ins extending from one end thereof and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tube, said apparatus including a supporting means for supporting a tube, means associated with said supporting means for advancing said tube axially along its longitudinai axis with said lead-ins extending in the direction of advance,- guide means associated with said support means for contacting said lead-ins when said tube is advanced, said guide means having engagement means for preferentially fitting a space between two adjacent lead-ins for permitting movement of said tube through said guide means only when said two adjacent lead-ins are in rotational registry with said engagement means, means for rotating said tube to bring said engagement means and said tube in rotational registry with each other, and said guide means having portions thereof for supporting and centering said lead-ins with respect to said engagement means.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said advancing means comprises take-up means whereby regression of said tube along its longitudinal axis of advancement is possible while said advancing means exerts a continuous force to advance said tube, and said engagement means comprises portions thereof to act in cooperation with said take-up means for sequentially encountering each of said lead-ins one by one to prevent movement of said tube through said guide means until said lead-ins are in proper rotational registry with said engagement means.

5. The method of automatically orienting and inserting an elongated electrical device into a socket, said device having spaced leads extending outwardly from one end thereof and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said device, and utilizing a retractible restraining member, said method comprising exerting a continuous force to advance said device along said longitudinal axis until said leads encounter said restraining member, rotating said device about said axis, preferentially engaging said leads with said restraining member, discontinuing rotation of said device, maintaining said predetermined angular orientation while retracting said restraining member, and fully inserting said leads into said socket.

6. The method substantially as in claim 5, with the additional step of reciprocally advancing and retracting said device against said restraining member, whereby said leads individually and sequentially contact said restraining member.

7. An apparatus for indexing and socketing an electron tube, said electron tube having a plurality of leads spaced from each other and extending outwardly from one end thereof and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said electron tube, one pair of adjacent leads being spaced differently from the spaces between adjacent pairs of the other leads to define an orientation space between said one pair of leads, said apparatus including a supporting means for supportinga tube, means associated with said supporting means for advancing said tube axially along its longitudinal axis with said lead-ins extending in the direction of advance, movable guide means associated with said supporting means for engaging the lead-ins when said tube is advanced, said guide means having a aperture therein and a key extending radially of said aperture for permitting movement of said tube through said guide means only when said leads are in proper rotational registry with said key, and means for rotating said tube when said tube is in engagement with said guide means to bring said key and said tube in rotational registry with each other.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, and means for moving said movable guide means out of the path of advance of said tube to permit further advance of said tube for socketing said tube.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said orientation space is larger than other spaces between adjacent pairs of other said leads, and wherein said key is wider than said other spaces between said leads but narrower than said orientation space.

10. In an apparatus for automatically orienting electrical devices having outwardly extending leads spaced around the periphery of a circle on one end thereof, the combination of a pair of joined guides forming a hole therein of a diameter sufiicient to allow passage of said leads, and a key extending radially into said hole to obstruct passage of said leads through said hole in any but one predetermined angular orientation, the walls of said hole serving to engage said leads to support said device in longitudinal orientation, said key having a surface to preferentially obstruct passage of said leads in any but said one predetermned angular orientation, and said surface having a portion thereon skew to the plane of said circle.

11. In an apparatus for automatically orienting electrical devices having outwardly extending leads spaced around the periphery of a circle on one end thereof, the combination of a pair of relatively movable guides forming a hole therein of a diameter sufiicient to allow passage of said leads, and a key extending radially into said hole to obstruct passage of said leads through said hole in any but one predetermined angular orientation, the walls of said hole serving to engage said leads to support said device in longitudinal orientation, said key having a surface to preferentially obstruct passage of said leads in any but said one predetermined angular orientation, and said surface having a portion thereon skew to the plane of said circle.

12. In an apparatus for orienting an electron tube having a dome end, a stem end, and a plurality of parallel leads spaced around the periphery of a circle extendfor guiding the leads of said tube into said cylindrical hole, and said cylindrical hole having portions thereof of a uniform diameter of extent to allow a slip fit of said circle with said leads therewithin, whereby said electron tube may be supported solely at said dome end and at said stem end.

13. Apparatus for indexing and sooketing a plurality of electron tubes having a plurality of lead-ins extending from one end thereof and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tube, said apparatus including a support means for receiving and supporting a tube, means associatedwith said supporting means for sequentially loading one of said plurality of tubes at a time into said supporting means, means associated with said supporting means for advancing said tube axially along its longitudinal axis, with said lead-ins extending in the direction of advance, movable guide means associated with said supporting means for engaging the lead-ins when said tube is advanced, said guide means having means for permitting movement of said tube through said guide means only when said lead-ins are in proper rotational registry with said guide means, and means for rotating said tube when said tube is in engagement with said guide means to bring said guide means and said tube in rotational registry with each other, and means for moving said movable guide means out of the path of advance of said tube to permit further advance of said tube in its registered position, and means positioned adjacent said guide means including a socket for receiving the lead-ins of said tube upon further advance of said tube, conveyor means for indexing said socket containing said tube away from said supporting means, and means for removing from said supporting member any one of said plurality of tubes not properly inserted into said socket.

14. Apparatus for indexing and socketing an electron tube having lead'ins extending from one end thereof and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said electron tube and wherein one pair of adjacent leads are spaced differently from the spacing between other adjacent pairs of leads to define an orientation space between said one pair of leads, said apparatus including an elongated housing for receiving a tube, said housing having mounted at one end thereof a pair of rotatable guide members closing one end of said housing and having rotatably and slidably mounted at the other end thereof means for rotating a tube received within the housing and for advancing said tube toward said guide elements, said guide elements having oppositely disposed semicircular recesses extending the-rethrough and forming an aperture through said elements, and a key extending radially of said aperture for engaging said lead-ins but permitting rotation of. said tube until the orientation space between said one pair of leads registers with said key whereby said tube may be advanced and said pins are permitted to extend through said aperture, and means for rotating said guide members away from each other to permit continued advance of said tube in its registered position.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the walls of said recesses are beveled inwardly for guiding the lead-ins of said tube into said aperture, said key having an inclined surface thereon for preventing jamming of said lead-ins against said key.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, and means positioned adjacent said guide means including a socket for receiving the lead-ins of said tube upon further advance of said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,337,056 Mathias Dec. 4, 1943 2,609,912 Engel Sept. 9, 1952 2,907,442 Monje Oct. 6, 1959 

